Tape-line.



No. 889,570. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

E. D. AYERS.

TAPE LINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.16, 1907.

ZSHEETSSHEET l.

' l l l l I l I W1 TNESSES E. D. AYERS.

TAPE LINE. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 16, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 /4 /2 5O- rig-3' Hf/omcy PATENTED JUNE 2, 190a.

ELMER D. AYERS, OF JONES STATION, PENNSYLVANIA.

/ TAPE-LINE.

To' all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, ELMER D. AYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jones Station, in the county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tape-Lines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact. description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which 1t appertains to m'ake and use the same. y p

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tape measures and has more particular reference to a tape measure of that type which includes spring means for retractmg the same into its casing.

The invention also comprehends a, construotion' adaptable for use as a spirit'level and a square. I

In connection with a device of the above type the invention aims as its primary object to provide novel means for retracting the tapeline into its casing after use.

The invention aims as a further object to i provide a novel construction, combination and arrangements of parts, the details of which will appear 1n thecourse of the following description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawin s formi a art of this specification, like cl iaracterfif r ference designating similar parts throughout the several vlews, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tape measure constructed in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view thereof, Fig.4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

In the accompanyin drawings the numeral 5 designates a suitab e casing havin a detachable side wall 6. Between the si e walls of the casing 5 aremounted transverse shafts 0r axles 7 and 8, the former being disposed rearwardly of the latter. Mounted for rotation upon the axle 7 is a cup shaped wheel 9 having its periphery provided with spur teeth 1( and aflat coil spring 11 is disposed within the wheel 9 and has one end secured thereto and its other end securedto the shaft or axle 7. The axles 7 and 8 have their ends reduced to form bearings which'engage in openings 7' and 8', respectively, in the side walls of the casing. 7

Mounted on a shaft or axle 8 is a reel 12 which carries the tape measure 13, the latter,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 16, 1907. Serial No. 388,837.

Patented June 2, 1908.

front wall of the casing 5, and carr ing at its free end a button 15 which aflorc s a finger piece, and which at the same time prevents the line 13 from being drawn whol ly within the casing. The reel 12 is formed in one side thereof with an integral pinion 16, in mesh with and driven from the teeth 10. i

In the rear part of the casing 5 a lever 17 is pivoted as at 18, which latter has its bearings in openings 18 in the side walls of the casing.

'Beyond its pivot said lever has an angularly extending finger 19 terminating in a locking spur 20. The s ur 20 is normally held in'engagement with t e teeth 10 by the pressure of an expansible coil spring 21 bearing against the bottom wall of the casing and against the lever 17. For the purpose of forcing said lever downwardly against the tension of the spring 21, and to release the spur 20 from engagement with the teeth 10, a stem 22 isprovi ed which is pivoted to the rear end of the lever 17 and which projects and works through an opening 23 in the top wall of the casing 5. The said top wall carries a counter sunk spirit tube 25, which serves as a leveling device in the well known manner. Pivoted to one of the walls of the casing 5 is a calibrated'ruler 26, which coacts with the saidcasing to afford. a T-square and which adjacent its pivot has a rounded end. A leaf spring 28 has one end fixed to the said well and.with its free endbears against the round end 27 of the ruler 26, the function of this leaf spring being to sustain the ruler. in either its folded .or extended positions; The said ruler 26 inwardly of its pivot is constructed with a depression 29 which is shallow to accommodate a conformableraised lug 30, in the extended position of said ruler,

it bein understood that the pivot thereof has a s ight play towards the attainment of this function.

In use the tape measure 13 is withdrawn from the casing against the tension of the spring 11, and t e lever 17 engaging the teeth 10 in the manner stated, prevents said spring 5 tion shape and arrangement of the several parts, Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed, is

A device of the type set forth comprisin a casing including a detachable side wall, ax es mounted transversely of said casing, a toothed wheel mounted on one of said axles, a flat coil spring having connection with said Wheel and said last named axle, a reel mounted on the other of said axles, a tape measure carried by said reel and movable into and out of said casing, a pinion carried at one side of said reel and in mesh with said toothed wheel, a spring pressed pivoted lever having 20 an extension formed with a spur to engage the periphery of said toothed wheel, and a stern for moving said lever against the ten' sion of said spring as and for the purpose set forth. 25

In testimony'whereof. I aflix my signature,

in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER D. AYERS.

Witnesses: WM. E. BURGE,

S. A. PHILIPS. 

